Iran insists right of using advanced centrifuges

• Carrying out researches and using advanced centrifuges are indispensable right of Iran, said Salehi.

• Iran's advanced centrifuges have been a bone of contention in talks between Iranian and EU negotiators.

• Nuclear experts from Iran and the six powers have held three rounds of talks.

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Carrying out researches and using advanced centrifuges are indispensable right of Iran, said head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi on Saturday.

Salehi's remarks were a response to the reported disagreements between Iran and the world powers in recent nuclear talks on implementing the landmark nuclear deal on the country's controversial nuclear program as Tehran has announced that it will continue researches on the new generations of the centrifuges.

Iran's advanced home-made centrifuges have been a bone of contention in Thursday and Friday's talks between the Iranian and European Union (EU) negotiators, Salehi said.

"There were one or two issues for which the experts had gone to Geneva, and one of them which was raised by the other side was the advanced centrifuges" whose possession and running is the indispensable right of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said.

Salehi expressed the confidence that Iran and the P5+1 Group ( the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) would eventually reach an agreement on this issue, but said raising such an issue is not logical and wise and not the questions the West's respect for human rights since it means that "they expect us not to think."

He hoped the differences between Iran and the world powers would be settled, saying that "Our position is very good now; we carry out enrichment, and continue our discoveries and nuclear technology applications," the report said.

Salehi added that one of the good points of the Geneva deal for Iran pertains to its freedom in nuclear research and development ( R&D), noting that the agreement entitles Tehran to continue its R& D in the field without any limitation.

On Thursday and Friday, Iran and the EU held a meeting in Geneva to discuss remaining issues pertaining to the implementation of an interim nuclear deal clinched between Tehran and the major world powers in last November.

Under the interim nuclear deal, Iran agreed to curb parts of its nuclear program for six months in return for limited relief of western and international sanctions against the country.

Nuclear experts from Iran and the six powers have held three rounds of talks to resolve various technical issues before the Geneva deal can be put into place.

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States is well aware that it cannot settle the regional problems without considering Iran's influence, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami said on Saturday.

"At present, no country in the region stretches a red carpet for the United States anymore and Egypt, Lebanon and Syria are no more the United States and the Zionists' backyard," Salami was quoted as saying by semi-official Fars news agency. Full story